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Rationale for In-Situ Exploration of the Marius Hills Pit
The Marius Hills volcanic complex in Oceanus Procellarum is noted for its diverse assortment of lava flows, domes, cones, pits, and sinuous
rilles [1]. The distinctive geology of this volcanic field prompted its inclusion as acandidate site for an Apollo landing [2]. Discovery of apit or
“skylight” of alava tube ceiling collapse in the region once again brought attention to Marius Hills [3]. The discovery of this skylight and others
on the Moon [4-5] and Mars [6] is compelling motivation for robotic investigations leading to eventual long-term human exploration missions.
SCIENTIFIC AND EXPLORATION VALUE
Skylight pit opening ~48m x 57m wide x 45m deep
(LROC images NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University)
Ancient lava flows at Marius Hills volcanic complex (Oceanus Procellarum region)
Skylight located at 14.09 deg N. Lat, 303.23 deg E. Long.
Marius Hills Pit (MHP) is a large,
deep pit formed from a lava tube
ceiling collapse. The entrance to
a lava tube cave is indicated by a
large overhang at the pit’s
northeast side. Mineral resources
in the surrounding area have
been postulated for surface
mining. The potential for long
term habitation and settlement
within the protection of the lava
tube form the basis for economic
development of the site.
Marius Hills Sklight
HUMAN RECONNAISSANCE
We are investigating COTS instruments
such as a Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer
(QMS) which has flown to the Moon aboard
the Moon Impact Probe of ISRO’s
Chandrayaan-1 mission. This COTS QMS
includes both a Pirani Gauge and a Bayard-
Alpert ion gauge. It can produce absolute
signal measurements with its Faraday cup,
or amplified signal orders of magnitude
higher with its electron multiplier.
In situ investigations with deployment of selected
instrument suites must meet an additional challenge
to preserve these pristine cave environments during
first contact, i.e., descending the pit and entering
the cave for the first time in an unobtrusive way.
G.E. Dorrington1, C. Brown2, G. Pignolet3, D.M. Hooper4, S.W. Ximenes5, E.L. Patrick6, M. Necsoiu6, M.J. Bradshaw7, H.S. Shin8, T.S. Lee9
1Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, Bundoora, Australia;2Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada;3Reunion Island Space Initiative, Pluton Sainte Rose, Reunion Island, France;
4WEX Foundation, San Antonio, Texas, USA;5XArc Exploration Architecture Corporation, San Antonio, Texas, USA;6Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA;7Neptec UK,
Harwell/University of Surrey, Surrey, United Kingdom;8Extreme Construction Research Center, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering &Building Technology (KICT), Goyang-Si, Republic of Korea;
9International Space Exploration Research Institute (ISERI), Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) -Lunar Science for Landed Missions Workshop, January 10-12, 2017, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California
SITE DEVELOPMENT AND HABITATION VALUE
GREEN RECONNAISSANCE AND LUNAR SCIENCE
Scientific Value: Basic scientific understanding of lava tube skylights is critical for
constraining theories about lava-flow thermodynamics and mare emplacement. The
layered sequence of basaltic lava flows, combined with their associated pyroclastic
deposits, preserves a record of the compositional and mineralogical history of the
mantle and essential for understanding lunar geologic evolution [7].
Remote sensing measurements are the foundation for understanding the regional
geology of the Marius Hills Pit (MHP) and other lunar pits. Recent radar soundings by
SELENE indicate a massive sub-surface void some tens of km in length that runs
westward of MHP [8]. Confirmation of this extended void by LiDAR scans from a
probe lowered below surface level into the pit would confirm the extent of this lava
tube, and provide a deeper understanding of lunar volcanism. LiDAR scans would
also collect a 3D point cloud of the pit for modeling its geometry, and evolving gas
could be detected by a mass spectrometer [9-10].
Many other scientific objectives could also be accomplished by such an in situ exploration of MHP including: layering of pit sidewalls from past lava
emplacement and paleoregolith strata characterization using infrared laser spectrometry; rubble pile composition analysis in order to determine
differences between paleoregolith and local surface regolith; rubble pile-up imagery for collapse modelling; subsurface radiation dosage and dust
particle impact measurement; wall temperature measurement for thermal conductivity models; volatile measurement (2-120 Da) in particular
targeting 40Ar emission. Such an in situ mission would not only offer decadal level science, but also provide a stepping-stone “reference mission”
for essential engineering and technology development in the human exploration of the Moon and Mars.
Determining an appropriate distance
from the pit for initial landing site and
traverse approach will also impact
mission planning scenarios for
instrument design and deployment.
HABITATION
References:[1] Lawrence S. J. et al. (2013) J. Geophys.Res.Planets 118,
doi:10.1002/jgre.20060. [2] Wilhelms D. E. (1993)To ARocky Moon, Univ.of Arizona Press,
Tucson, AZ. [3] Haruyama J. et al. (2009)Geophys.Res.Lett.36, L21206. [4] Ashley J. W. et
al. (2011) LPS XLII, Abstract #2771. [5] Ashley J. W. et al. (2011) 1st Inter.Planet.Cave
Research Wksp., Abstract #8008. [6] Cushing G. E. et al. (2007)Geophys.Res.Lett.34,
L17201. [7] Hooper D.M. et al. (2013)Golden Spike Human Lunar Expeditions, LPI, Abstract
#6022. [8] Haruyama J. et al. (2017) LPS XLVIII, Abstract #1711. [9] Patrick E. L. et al. (2013)
LPS XLIV, Abstract #2996. [10]Patrick E. L. et al. (2012)Rev. Sci. Instrum.83,105116. [11]
McKay et al., IAU Symposium 264 (2012)475-477. [12]Wagner, R. V., & Robinson, M. S.
(2014), Icarus, 237,52-60.
Protocols of “Green
Reconnaissance” for
science investigations
are relaxed during the
exploitation phase as
human activity
increases for lunar
site development.
PIT CONSTRUCTION
With over 200 lunar pit discoveries [12] and others on Mars [6], the MHP science
investigations, exploration, and site development activities can serve as a prototype
for technology development needed for interaction and utilization of these geologic
features for human habitation. Eventual large scale civil engineering construction
activity and infrastructure development for long term sustainment of these type of
sites for human settlement would be the end-state benefit for exploring the MHP.
Our “Green Reconnaissance” approach to lunar
exploration and exploitation seeks to address
contamination factors to preserve science fidelity.
Samples are not pristine if sprayed by rocket
exhaust, cabin air, and sublimating water. Lunar
regolith could reveal secrets of the paleocosmic
history of volatiles within the inner solar system [11],
but empirical evidence suggests this environment is
extremely fragile and susceptible to contamination
by artificial sources. Targeting lunar skylights
exploits these natural entrances into the lunar
interior, and may represent potential access to more
refractory volatiles within the Moon’s interior that
have survived its formation history. One of the first challenges for
reconnaissance at the MHP is
getting instruments, payloads,
and eventually astronauts down
the pit hole and then back out
in an unobtrusive manner which
maintains integrity of the initial
pristine site for science
investigations. One approach is
developing a robotic concept
for a grappling and anchoring
platform for zip line offloading
of instruments and payloads for
access to subsurface features.
Neptec LiDAR camera in development
for robotic lunar pit reconnaissance
COTS derived Mass Spectrometer
for robotic lunar pit reconnaissance